Four people taking part in the armed robbery of an AM/PM store in Wildomar, early this morning, were apprehended in Menifee, at the corner of Murietta Rd and Bundy Canyon Rd. Below is the report from the Sheriff...

On January 16, 2008, about 12:20 A.M., Riverside County Sheriff's deputies from the Lake Elsinore Station were called to the AM / PM Convenience Store, located in the 33000 block of Orange St. in Wildomar, regarding a robbery that just occurred.

Store employees told the deputies two masked suspects armed with handguns stole an undisclosed quantity of money from the store cash register at gun point. The suspects then fled the store with the money. Arriving first at the store (and within 1 minute of the call), Riverside County Sheriff's Corporal Scott Spykstra saw a silver 1997 Mitsubishi Galant 4-door speeding from the scene eastbound on Bundy Canyon Rd. with its lights off.

Corporal Spykstra followed the Mitsubishi to the intersection of Bundy Canyon Rd. and Murrieta Rd. in Menifee, where he was assisted by other Lake Elsinore and Perris Station deputies in stopping the automobile. A total of 4 suspects were arrested without further incident at that time. 2 handguns used during the robbery were found following the stop, and the stolen money was recovered from the suspects.

Arrested on multiple felony charges in connection with this incident were Sergio Santoyo, age 21 of Santa Ana, Raeleen Rodriguez, age 25 of Fullerton, Annette Marrufo, age 27 of Bellflower, and Cassandra Walton, age 22 of Fullerton. All 4 suspects were subsequently booked at the Riverside County Sheriff's Robert Presley Detention Center. Deputies learned Santoyo, Marrufo, and Walton are convicted felons currently on parole through the State of California's Department of Corrections. They were additionally booked on felony parole violation charges.

This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this armed robbery is asked to call Riverside County Sheriff's detectives at (951) 245-3300.

How fortunate that in this case, Corporal Spykstra was able to respond within 1 minute of the call.